Jaw hair clip for firmly holding hair

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hair jaw clip having two jaws attached by a spring hinge. The jaws have teeth and opening handles. Rubber or soft plastic beading is formed on at least a portion of the jaws to soften the pressure applied to the hair, while minimizing slippage.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to improvements in hair clips and, moreparticularly, to an improved hair clip for firmly holding and securinghair while preventing damage to the hair being held.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Hair clips are generally used for holding hair in particularpositions. Examples of different hair clips can be found in U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,250,282 and Des. 325,047 and GB Pat. No. 161,262. The '282patent's hair clip is a generally V shaped clip that opens by pressingthe open ends of the V together. A fulcrum close to the open portion ofthe V opens the clip for receiving its wearer's hair. The patent showsparallel rigid serrations that contact the hair. The '047 patent shows ahair clip for holding a larger portion of its wearer's hair due to itslarger mouth. The '262 patent shows a traditional barrette with a stripof beaded rubber on its hair contact face to prevent hair slippagethrough the barrette. The '262 patent does not show the rubber bead onthe aluminum crosspiece which also contacts the hair.

[0003] The hair clips described above do not include any means forpreventing damage to hair held between the jaws of what is traditionallyknown as a “jaw clip”. A jaw clip type hair accessory include twohingedly attached jaws with interleaving teeth or fingers. Jaw clips areuseful for easily securing large quantities of hair. In such devices,hair can be damaged when it becomes pinned or trapped between the twojaws of the teeth, which are typically made of hard plastic or metal.Such damage may, for example, be in the form of hair deformation.

[0004] Furthermore, conventional jaw clips typically include haircontact surfaces which are smooth, thus having low coefficients offriction. As a result, these types of clips are prone to hair slippingout from between the clip's jaws during attachment or while in use.

[0005] A need, therefore, exists for a hair clip capable of firmlyholding hair between scissoring jaws while preventing damage thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided ahair jaw clip having teeth, a spring, and opening jaws with handles. Thejaws are hingedly attached to one another. The hair clip is designed tofirmly holds hair while preventing damage to the hair. The jaw clipteeth are separated for receiving the hair by pressing the handles in ascissoring manner. Once the hair is within the open teeth, the handlesare released and the spring presses the opposing teeth toward eachother. This holds the hair in place. Rubber or soft plastic beadingwithin the jaws softens the pressure applied by the generally hardplastic clip, while gripping the hair on its high friction surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown inthe drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand methodologies shown.

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair clip in an open position inaccordance with the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a side view of a hair clip in a closed position inaccordance with the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a front view of a hair clip in an open position inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Referring now to the Figures, wherein like numerals correspond tolike elements throughout the several views, a hair clip 10 according tothe present invention is shown. The clip 10 includes two jaws 12 withteeth 14, bodies 15, and handles 16. The jaws are hingedly attached toone another at a point, H, between the teeth 14 and the handles 16. Aspring 18 is located between the jaws 12. The spring 18 biases the teethtowards each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring 18 is atorsion spring. However, other springs or devices that force togetherthe teeth would be feasible in the present invention as would beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

[0012] The hair clip 10 is easy to open and close to secure hair. Inorder to open the jaws, sufficient pressure is applied to the handles 16to overcome the spring force and separate the teeth 14. FIG. 2 shows theclip in its closed position. FIGS. 1 and 3 show the clip in its openposition. When open, the clip 10 is positioned with the jaws disposedalong side the hair to be clipped. The handles 16 are then released,allowing the spring to force the teeth toward each other, therebysecuring the hair between the jaws 12.

[0013] In order to minimize damage to the hair and to decrease slippage,a rubber or synthetic material 20 is disposed on the bodies 15 and/or onthe teeth 14. This material has a higher coefficient of friction thanthe teeth themselves. This allows the material to grip the hair, andhold it more effectively than the plastic or metal teeth themselves.

[0014] Alternate embodiments may include a coating located on either theteeth, the bodies or both. While rubber is the preferred material foruse with this invention, other materials can be used that are softerthan the underlying teeth and jaw.

[0015] The jaws and teeth are preferably made from metal or hard plasticstrong enough to hold hair in place. A coating, sheet, or sleeve madefrom rubber, natural or synthetic, or similar soft flexible material ispreferably coated on the interior of the jaw and/or teeth. The rubberlayer, in addition to increasing the amount of friction also provides abarrier between hair and the clip's members. Such an arrangement iseasier on the hair in that at least a portion of the compressive forceand deformation caused thereby is exerted on the coating and not thehair.

[0016] As shown in the figures, the frictions covering 20 preferablyincludes a plurality of raised pads 22. The raised pads 22 providesmooth “hills” and “valleys” in which the hair interweaves, therebyfurther increasing the ability of the hair clip to inhibit slippage. Inone embodiment of the invention the raised pads 22 located on the jawsare off-set from one another such that raised pads 22 on one jaw lieadjacent to the raised pads 22 on the other jaw when the jaw clips areclosed.

[0017] Although embodiments of the invention have been described indetail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto, and that various changes can be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined by theattached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair clip comprising: two jaws, each jaw havinga handle, a body, and teeth, the jaws being hingedly attached to oneanother; a spring connected to each of the jaws, the spring biasing theteeth of each jaw together; and means on at least one of the jaws forfirmly holding hair between the jaws.
 2. A hair clip as in claim 1wherein the means for firmly holding hair between the jaws is aresilient material disposed along at least a portion of an inner surfaceof one of the jaws.
 3. A hair clip as in claim 2 wherein the resilientmaterial is synthetic rubber.
 4. A hair clip as in claim 2 wherein theresilient material is natural rubber.
 5. A hair clip as in claim 1wherein the means for firmly holding hair between the jaws is a rubbersleeve disposed over at least a portion of one of the jaws.
 6. The hairclip of claim 1 wherein the spring is a torsion spring.
 7. A hair clipas in claim 1 wherein the means for firmly holding hair between the jawsis a rubber coating on the teeth portions of the jaws.
 8. A hair clip asin claim 1 wherein the means for firmly holding hair between the jaws isa rubber coating on the body portions of the jaws.
 9. A hair clip as inclaim 1 wherein the means for firmly holding hair between the jaws is arubber coating on the jaws which includes a plurality of raised pads.10. A hair clip as in claim 9 wherein the raised pads on one jaw arepositioned to be located adjacent to raised pads on the other jaw whenthe jaws are closed.
 11. A hair clip comprising: two jaws, each jawhaving a handle, a body, and teeth, the jaws being hingedly attached toone another; a spring connected to each of the jaws, the spring biasingthe teeth of each jaw together; and a rubber coating formed on at leasta portion of the jaws, the rubber coating including a plurality ofraised pads.